TAMPA, Fla. — More than 60 representatives from both sides of the aisle have co-sponsored a bill that would provide protection and financial coverage for firefighters who are diagnosed with certain types of cancer.
Over 500 pairs of boots with photos attached lined the steps of the capitol building on March 7th, representing firefighters who are either fighting or have perished from cancer. The demonstration was in support of House Bill 857.
Firefighter Mike Billek was in attendance that day for his father.
"He ended up retiring a little early due to the fact that he had come down with cancer," Mike said.
Mike's father, Captain Joseph Billek served as a firefighter for 28.5 years before his diagnosis. "He was diagnosed with melanoma at the age of 49, and ultimately about six months after he retired early, he passed away from melanoma at the age of 51."
Captain Joseph Billek is not unique.
Firefighters have a higher chance of developing certain cancers. The CDC says firefighters have a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer than the general population.
A bill going through the house would cover firefighters who develop 21 different types of cancer. Melanoma is included in that group. Representative Fentrice Driskell is one of the over 60 representatives co-sponsoring the bill.
"I support House Bill 857 because I think it is a good and necessary bill," Driskell said. "Firefighters are amongst our first responders, and I believe that we need to make sure they are well taken care of when it comes to their health and when it comes to their benefits."
But time could be running out.
The bill has come to a standstill in the House. It currently sits in the Oversight, Transparency & Public Management Subcommittee which has no more meetings set at this point.
We reached out to the Chairman of the subcommittee, Representative Scott Plakon, multiple times to ask if this will change, he has yet to get back to us.
Representative Driskell already has her eyes on next year.
"Unfortunately we are coming up on the time in session when the subcommittees are going to stop meeting and we'll be focused solely on the legislative session," Driskell said. "Time is running out on this bill for this session, although there is a possibility, as you just mentioned, that the subcommittees could continue to meet next week.
"But if it is not heard within the next week or so, its probably going to have to be a bill we try to pursue again next session."
Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Anitere Flores from Florida's 39th district also commented on the bill.
DeSantis left the following statement:
“I can’t comment on the bill. I just don’t memorize the bill numbers. When I was in Congress, I didn’t even know my own bill numbers for the bills I had it’s just not, so I need to know a little bit more about the bill, we are, I know the CFO is spearheading different initiatives to support our firefighters and it’s something I’ve been supportive of but I don’t know that particular legislation.”
Senator Flores left the following statement:
“This would not be incredibly costly to local governments we've seen some have already stepped up on their own so it's not very costly, it's the right thing to do. This is a message we want to send to our first responders. they have our backs day in and day out and we have to have their back when they need us.”
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